Plastic surgery is the gift of Vedic scripture of 'Sushruta' to modern medicines, says Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) Sripad Naik. Inaugurating the Amrita Institute for Integrated Medicine and Research Cente under Amrita University in Kochi, Kerala, today, Naik said, the knowledge was transmitted from teachers and practitioners to scholars.
"Our ancestors had such a remarkable sense of observations that they could see the effect of natural products, viz. herbs, animal products and minerals on human body," said the Minister.
Naik's statement is in line with the observation made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October last year, that cosmetic surgery and reproductive genetics were practiced in ancient India thousands of years ago.
Naik said, these systems not only prescribe the treatment with drugs, but also have the concept of regulation of life-style, dietetic regiments, seasonal regiments, which are helpful to prevent as well as cure many diseases. "Another advantage of these medicines is that they do not have side effects on long-term use," Naik added.
The minister called for generating scientific evidence and validation of ancient Indian healthcare system for its global acceptance. He said, in the emerging world of life-style related disorders and chronic diseases, stand-alone modern medicine might not be sufficient to cater to the demand of the ailing society.
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"At such a crucial juncture, there is a need to create such treatment facilities with integrative approach, where patients can choose their preferred system of medicine under one roof," remarked the Minister. "Not only this, it will also help to promote referrals from one system to the other so as to achieve better understanding among medical fraternity."
The first of its kind Centre for integrated study, research and patient care in Allopathy, Ayurveda and Yoga will come up in Kochi, Kerala under the Amrita University. The Amrita Institute of Integrated Medicine and Research Centre is planned as a centre to integrate the holistic vision and therapeutic range of Indian systems of healthcare with the analytical, diagnostic and prognostic proficiency of modern medical sciences.
The Centre will bring out replicable guidelines for introducing and practicing integrated healthcare at various levels besides facilities for study and research. It will utilise non-pharmacological and non-technological healing spectrum, including psycho-physiological interventions, behavioural therapeutic measures and spiritual inputs to improve well-being; record and present the experimental knowledge in scientific forums to create awareness and network with physicians from Modern Medicine, Ayurveda, Yoga and other systems of Indian medicines, who are in alignment with the concept.
The Centre will also have facilities for pharmacognosy of raw drugs, phytochemical studies of drugs, physic-chemical constants of single drugs and formulations. It will also endeavour to revive and retrieve texts from ancient manuscripts/rare books, collection and compilation of references relating to drugs and diseases from classical treatises, lexicographic work, contemporary literature and publications related to Ayurveda and other medical systems.
The Centre has a component to make available ayurvedic medicines at low cost. It will also contribute to enhancing the Ayurvedic Biodiversity of India through farming of rare species, organic farming to improve the quality of ayurvedic plants, encourage farmers to cultivate ayurvedic plants; training villagers to manufacture Ayurvedic formulations through low-cost pharmaceutical engineering in a small-scale set up.
